more about the 13.th greek mira in Afrika

[byron-]

http://koti.welho.com/msolanak/13helengl.html

[Graham Boak]

Very interesting.

The main reason for the removal of the Baltimores will have been that they were provided under Lend-Lease, and therefore had to returned (if wanted by the US), scrapped (if unwanted by the US) or paid for. Neither the UK nor Greece was in any financial position to pay for these aircraft.

A secondary reason would be that operating British aircraft meant that Greece would be reliant on the UK for spares, although given the amount available at the end of the war, this is unlikely to have proven a particularly remunerative exercise for British industry.

Not that spares for the Baltimores would have been any cheaper from the US, which had no stocks nor any interest in obtaining any previously supplied.

[byron-]

The greek pilot of the 13.th squadron Sotiris Skatzikas was taken prisoner by the Germans and was brought to Stalag Luft III in Sagan. He took part in the "Great Escape", was arrested and executed with 49 other airmen.

hier the story

http://www.elsham.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/gt_esc/

on the picture Pilot Skatzikas with his older brother in Rhodesia